Jeremy Ruckert

The Jets passed on arguably the top two tight ends in the draft when they picked at No. 7 in the first round. Instead, they addressed protecting the quarterback by taking T Armand Membou. Their patience paid off at No. 42 when LSU tight end Mason Taylor fell into the lap of Jets fans.

New York had a patchwork group of guys at the position for 2025 after Tyler Conklin set sail for Los Angeles, making this a position of need. Taylor will have the road paved ahead for him to slot in right in front of Jeremy Ruckert to start the season. In addition to fluid movement in the open field and reliable hands, Taylor is a very capable blocker. That has not gone unnoticed by the team that desires to run the ball and control the clock.

Before his selection to the Jets, Mason Taylor finished as a three-year starter at LSU marked by consistency. While he scored just six touchdowns over three seasons, he repeatedly increased his production, finishing with 129 catches for 1,308 yards. That’s no small feat for a tight end at Louisiana State, and his blocking and ability to find the sticks for first downs were paramount to continuing drives. The importance of that talent cannot be lost on New York, who provide QB Justin Fields with a security blanket.

Author: Sam Schneider (@BuyAndSellYou)